MoneyMetrics Blog
Timely Canadian personal-finance updates - tax changes, rate news, and playbooks - paired with calculators you can run against your own numbers.
Budget 2026: What It Changes for Your Money (Canada)
No new tax brackets, no TFSA or RRSP limit change. The parts that reach your wallet are a one-time Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit top-up in early 2027, a later tax deadline from 2028, and mortgage shopping rules. All are proposals until Parliament passes them.
CPP and CPP2 Limits 2026: The $74,600 Ceiling, the $85,000 Second Ceiling, and Your Paycheque
Base CPP stops once your pensionable earnings hit $74,600. A smaller CPP2 deduction then runs until $85,000. On a $100,000 salary, that second window is the autumn paycheques - and by December both are gone.
Delay OAS to 70 in 2026? The 36% Increase, the Age-83 Break-Even, and the Clawback
OAS cannot start before 65, and it stops growing at 70. Service Canada's October 2026 table turns a $762.50 pension into $1,037 if you wait the full five years. The dollars cross shortly after your 83rd birthday, before tax.
Mortgage Renewal 2026: What a Higher Payment Means - and How to Shop Without the Stress Test
Five-year fixed mortgages renewing in 2026 face an average payment increase around 20%, per Bank of Canada staff analysis. Staying put is easy. Shopping a straight switch - same balance, same amortization - no longer requires OSFI's prescribed stress test.
The RRIF Trap: How Mandatory Withdrawals Trigger OAS Clawback in 2026
A $1.5 million RRIF at age 71 forces a $79,200 minimum withdrawal. Add CPP and OAS and many retirees cross the 2026 clawback line without spending a dollar more. TFSA withdrawals do not count. RRIF withdrawals do.
Canada's 14% Tax Bracket: How Much Extra Take-Home You Actually Keep in 2026
The 14% federal bracket is law for 2026. Maximum savings are about $421 once taxable income reaches $58,523. Here is what that does to take-home pay in three provinces, and why a raise still feels smaller than the headline.
RESP Guide Canada 2026: How to Get $7,200 in Free Government Money for Your Child's Education
The government will give you $7,200 for your child's education through the RESP CESG program. Low-income families can get an extra $2,000 with zero contributions required. Here's exactly how to maximize every dollar.
RRSP, TFSA, FHSA or Debt? The Right Order to Invest in Canada 2026
Most Canadians invest in the right accounts in the wrong order. Maxing your TFSA while leaving employer RRSP matching unclaimed costs you a guaranteed 50–100% return. Here is the correct priority order for 2026.
Ontario Take-Home Pay 2026: Exactly How Much Tax You Pay on Every Salary
A $75,000 Ontario salary leaves you with about $56,845 after tax, CPP, and EI in 2026. Here is the exact breakdown for five common salary levels, plus why your raise always feels smaller than expected.
TFSA vs RRSP 2026: Which Account Should You Contribute To First?
Both accounts grow your money tax-sheltered, but the right choice depends on whether your tax rate today is higher or lower than it will be in retirement. We break down the math with real numbers.
When to Take CPP: Age 60, 65 or 70? The Break-Even Math for Canadians
The CPP start-date decision is one of the biggest retirement choices you'll make. A one-year delay after 65 permanently boosts your payment by 8.4%. Here's how to decide whether to take it early, at 65, or at 70.
GIC Ladder Strategy Canada 2026: How It Works + $5,000 Example
Locking all your savings into a single GIC term is a gamble on one interest rate. A ladder staggers maturities so you get annual liquidity, capture higher long-term rates, and reduce rate risk - all at once.
FHSA Calculator Canada 2026: Maximize Your First Home Savings Account
The FHSA is the most powerful savings account for first-time home buyers in Canada. Contribute up to $8,000/year, get a full tax deduction, and withdraw tax-free for your first home - no repayment required.
Can I Afford a House in 2026? The Stress Test Explained
Understand Canada's mortgage stress test and find out what you actually qualify for.
The OAS Clawback: How to Keep Your Pension
Strategies to reduce OAS clawback by managing retirement income sources.